In contemporary usage, the term “liberal arts” usually refers to the subjects that comprise the humanities and social sciences in today’s institutions of higher education. These include subjects like English, history, sociology, anthropology, and art history, among others. The tradition of the liberal arts originated with the ancient Greek philosophical tradition and the Romans during their republican period, with the Romans coining the term liberales artes (“free arts”) to refer to a specific set of subjects that free men studied in preparation for public, civic life. A liberal education, Zakaria argues, thus developed to support the democratic tradition.

MOOCs became popular in the 2010s as a format for making higher education accessible to thousands of people across the globe. Companies like Coursera and edX provide courses that can be taken at low cost and for which students receive certificates, while some may be taken for free without certification. Courses have no caps on enrollment and can thus serve an infinite number. Zakaria, writing in 2014 at the height of MOOC interest, views them as an equitable alternative to traditional colleges and universities, especially for those in the Global South, where educational access may be limited. Millions of learners have enrolled in MOOCs; however, completion rates are low.